Ultra-rare Minotaur Box For Sale

A proud David Bowie stands in front of the contents
of the Minotaur Box at the Flowers East private view,
September 1994. Photograph © Richard Young.

Scary Monsters...

Those wonderful ladies over at BowieArt have unearthed a copy of one of the very rare Minotaur box sets of 14 prints that was published in 1994. I don't really want to tell you much about the set as, frankly, I want it for myself, and you probably wouldn't like it anyway.

But, if you're really determined to find out a bit more you should nip over to BowieArt news and look for an item headed "12-02-02 Rare David Bowie print set for sale." Best leave it for a few days though as the network traffic is really heavy at the moment...Now, where did I put my bank manager's phone number?....

"Right Blam, if you can shift enough of these signed posters
you might earn enough for a deposit on that Minotaur box."
Blammo and The Artist the day before the night above.

Celeb Bowie Fans In 100th Edition Of Mojo

Ian McCulloch, serious contender for the Boy
George award to life-long celebrity Bowie fans.

Who'll love Aladdin Sane?

MOJO celebrates its centenary with the March edition of the magazine, and they've marked the event by asking 100 celebs to "name their hero and tell of the effect they've had on their life." Here follows excerpts from the entries of three people who chose David Bowie as their hero.

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Echo & The Bunnymen, front...erm...Bunnyman, Ian McCulloch

"Bowie changed the face of music and the world. Everybody's got dyed hair or mad clothes now, but until he kicked in in '72, it was rare to see that kind of flamboyance. I was 12 when 'Starman' came out and I remember hearing it on the radio before going to school. It connected with me in a way no other ever had.

I saw him on Top Of The Pops, it was like "bloody hell". The presence of it. I've met loads of people since who say it changed their life as well. He met me a few times (laughs). We supported him as Electrafixion. He was lovely...looks amazing, I preferred his old teeth though."

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Ian Astbury of The Cult

"My musical hero is David Bowie. I've consistently bought every album he's made since I was 11 years old and he's just made my favourite records, records I keep going back to. He's one of the most progressively-minded artists, the one with the most vision, and he's done everything.

I love him so much, it's been like a rite of passage. Every single major event in my life has been around a Bowie record coming out. I got to meet him in '87 - we played on his Glass Spider tour...and he was one of the most eloquent, gentle people I've ever met and he gave me a lot of inspiration. Bowie was a real gentleman.

And I even like stuff from his last album, 'hours...' is a really good album. So I consistently go back to him as a major influence. I like the fact that he's English and he's had international success and influenced so many people around the world."

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Travis Bassist, Dougie Payne

"When I was a kid my sister Jill got em into 'Hunky Dory' 'The Bewlay Brothers' terrified me; all those squeaky voices. 'Kooks' and 'Oh! You Pretty Things' are amazing, too. His version of 'Port Of Amsterdam' on 'Pin Ups' (Blammo note: must have been the Ryko re-issue) turned me on to Scott Walker and Jacques Brel, and he also made me check out the Velvets. Then 'Low' led me to Kraftwerk. He sent me off on tangents."

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There ya go....Well we all knew about Ian McCulloch and Dougie Payne, but Ian Astbury? Who'd have thought it, eh Susans? Good stuff!

Iman "because You're Worth It"

Here's an image I recommend

Starting tonight on Channel 4 in the UK is the two part series Because You're Worth It: 100 Years Of Make Up. The series "traces the relationship between the changing needs of women and of one of the biggest and most influential industries in the world, from its humble beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to the huge business that it is today", and looks at how "the cosmetics industry has continued to act as a mirror for social change."

For those not in the UK, there is an excellent website accompanying the series, which includes:

-a decade-by-decade walk through the history of cosmetics.
-biographies of some of those who made it happen.
-an examination of women, make-up and power.
-an investigation into the symbiotic relationship between celebrity and cosmetics.

For her influential role in changing attitudes to women of colour, as well as the development of her own range of cosmetics, Iman features on both the TV show and the website, and is seen in the commercial for the show which is now airing. The programme goes out on 13th and 20th February at 9.00pm on Channel 4 in the UK.

:))

Fifth Bowienet/ebay Auction

More clobber no doubt going for a song...whatever that means!

Well I wouldn't buy no merchandise*...

The fifth BowieNet eBay auction is now live. The three items up for grabs this week are a black "REEVES IS GOOD" t-shirt, a heavy duty 'Sound & Vision' denim shirt commemorating a show at the Olympic Stadium in Stockholm on August 24, 1990, and one of five signed limited edition prints of David Bowie and Tony Visconti taken at The Beckenham Arts Lab in the UK by Arts Lab performer Stephen Roberts back in 1969.

9" x 6" print of David Bowie and Tony Visconti performing at The
Beckenham Arts Lab in 1969, actually signed by the scruffy buggers!

The above item is a beautiful photograph and an incredible collectable, in that it is signed by both David and Tony. All of the proceeds from the sale of this print will go to the Chernobyl Childrens Life Line Charity. Keep your eye on the BowieNet Auctions Page if you want to see how the bidding is going. Last week's items finished with a very respectable combined total of $236.80.

*The double-negative in this lyric suggests that the singer would actually buy some merchandise.

David Recommends Eskimo Chain!?

'Astronomy Domine' ...a photo-composite by
Total Blam Blam, with apologies to Mick Rock.

Float on a river for ever and ever...

David recently pointed me in the direction of a website, of which I was previously unaware, called 'Eskimo Chain: Syd Barrett and beyond'. For those of you that appreciate the work of Barrett, this site really is a must. Eskimo Chain is primarily made up of articles originally printed in the fanzine of the same name, and they make fascinating reading. This is what 'Eskimo Chain' says about itself:

"Syd Barrett, the 'madcap' genius behind Pink Floyd, has not released a single new record since 1970. Yet ironically he is now more famous than ever, with a world-wide following of fans fascinated by both the man and his music. As the James Dean of British psychedelia, he had a brief flash of brilliance in the Sixties, only to withdraw completely from public life to pursue his interest in painting.

It seems highly unlikely that he will ever return to the recording studio, but we can still hope that like Captain Beefheart, he might one day use his fame to launch a new career as a fine artist. The original 'Eskimo Chain' fanzine was dedicated to celebrating his work and was active from 1995 to 1998. This new site aims to make many of
the old articles available again and to add new features, news and reviews - hope
you enjoy it."

David's enthusiasm for this site is no surprise when one considers some of the glowing things he has said regarding Syd's influence on him:

"Syd Barrett with his white white face and his black eyeliner all around his eyes - this strange presence singing in front of a band that was using light shows. I thought, 'Wow! He's a bohemian, a poet, and he's in a rock band!"

Check out 'Eskimo Chain' by clicking on the image above.

David Bowie Appointed Director Of Meltdown 2002

"Hmmm...The Shaggs? Now that would be interesting."
The Artistic Director of Meltdown 2002 considers the line-up.
Picture © MARKUS KLINKO and INDRANI.

Put you all inside my show...

David Bowie has been appointed Artistic Director of Meltdown 2002. The festival runs from the 14th to the 30th of June, and is the first time in almost thirty years that David will have been involved with an event on the South Bank since his legendary Royal Festival Hall performance of July 8th 1972. (A show famous for also being Lou Reed's first ever UK performance when he joined David on-stage for 'White Light/White Heat', 'Sweet Jane', and 'Waiting For The Man.')

We will post the full line-up and details of David's exact involvement as we get them, but in the meantime please enjoy this beautiful new picture of the Artistic Director of Meltdown 2002 (posted a little bigger than usual, for obvious reasons) and the official press release, below, which includes a quote from him regarding the event...

Total Blam Blam - (European Correspondent)

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Meltdown 2002 official press release

The Royal Festival Hall is delighted to announce that one of the world's most influential and popular artists, David Bowie, is the Artistic Director of Meltdown 2002. He will create his own festival of events to be staged at the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room on London's South Bank from 14 to 30 June 2002. The full line-up for DAVID BOWIE'S MELTDOWN 2002 will be announced soon.

David Bowie is the tenth celebrated artist who has accepted the invitation to curate Meltdown, Britain's most cutting-edge festival, since its inception in 1993. Previous participants in the festival have included the likes of Radiohead, Blur, Kylie Minogue, Elvis Costello and Spiritualized.

Renowned throughout the world for its eclectic programmes of rock, classical and contemporary music, film, theatre and exhibitions, each year Meltdown offers a guest director the chance to produce his or her own fantasy festival, mixing artists and artforms, reflecting their own personal passions and interests.

David Bowie says: "I'm excited about this opportunity to contribute to Meltdown. I hope some of the ideas we come up with for performances and artists will transpire for if they do, they will hopefully make this an inspiring and fun Festival.

I was very disappointed two years ago when I had to decline Scott Walker's invitation to perform so I am thrilled that I get a second chance to contribute in whatever way I can."

Glenn Max, the South Bank's Producer of Contemporary Culture says: "I'm thrilled and honoured that David Bowie has agreed to take up the challenge. An artist of his vision and stature will produce a festival that will undoubtedly attract artists and visitors from every corner of the world. As an artist, producer and bandleader he always champions the work of others - both renowned and obscure. In many ways he's the quintessential Meltdown Director. His way of thinking makes an eclectic festival like Meltdown possible. With Bowie at the helm, the tenth Meltdown will possibly be the most memorable."

Previous Meltdown Directors are Robert Wyatt (2001), Scott Walker (2000), Nick Cave (1999), John Peel (1998), Laurie Anderson (1997), Magnus Lindberg (1996), Elvis Costello (1995), Louis Andriesson (1994) and George Benjamin (1993). Their programmes have yielded memorable performances from an outstanding range of artists including Blur, Radiohead, Nina Simone, Kylie Minogue, Sir Les Patterson, Spalding Gray, Deborah Harry, Cornershop, Spiritualized, Lou Reed, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Max Roach, Tricky and Sonic Youth. Mini-Meltdowns have also been curated by David Thomas, Daniel Miller, Julian Cope and Talvin Singh.

Final Part Of Warhol Documentary Tonight

David Bowie as Andy Warhol in the film 'Basquiat'.

Andy Warhol, Silver Screen, Can't tell them apart at all...

The third and final part of 'Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture' is screened tonight at 8:00pm on Channel 4 here in the UK. This episode, 'The Sixteenth Minute', is as fascinating as the two previous episodes of this compulsive look back at the life and work of one of the most influential artists of the 20th-century.

'The Sixteenth Minute' recalls how, in his last years, Warhol stepped up production in every field, confounding critics who had written him off as a spent force. The programme looks at; 'Interview' magazine, the political commentary of the Mao and Hammer and Scythe paintings, the incredible series of portraitures, the "oxidation paintings" (in fact, these abstracts were created by pissing on a reactive surface, for which Andy received some help from male colleagues, but, after a trial run no women contributed, as they couldn't get the brushstroke effect!), the failure of the "Andy Robot", the sale of Andy's cookie jar collection for a quarter of a million dollars...and much more.

This final programme also examines the work of the "Warhol Babies" such as Kenny Scharf and Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Warhol's collaborations with the latter and Keith Harring. It takes a look also at the ground-breaking TV show, 'Andy Warhol's Fifteen Minutes' and the posthumous establishment of two museums which have helped the controversial Warhol brand survive and for which a battle for possession rages to this day.

"Andy Warhol likes my shoes." David Bowie at Warhol's Factory.

Having viewed a rough-cut of tonight's show, I can tell you that there is sadly no mention of David, neither his brief meeting with Warhol at The Factory, or his performance as Warhol in 'Basquiat'. But, the film is being shown today as part of the Warhol film season in the Starr Auditorium at the Tate Modern, where the superb Warhol retrospective, which is now open, runs until April 1st.

The 'Pop Art - Underground Sounds from the Warhol Era' CD that we mentioned a couple of weeks back, which contains David Bowie's 1971 classic, 'Andy Warhol', is released tomorrow.

First Ziggy Tour Kicks Off Thirty Years Ago Today

David Bowie as Ziggy on the first UK tour, early 1972. © Mick Rock.

I could make a transformation as a rock & roll star...

The next significant event in the key moments that led up to the release of 'Ziggy Stardust' back in 1972, was the commencement of the first Ziggy Stardust tour in the UK, on a cold Thursday back on February 10th 1972 at the Toby Jug in Tolworth, Kingston upon Thames. I covered this event in some detail a couple of years back here on BowieNet, (02/10/00 SNIPPET: THIS DAY IN BOWIE HISTORY) and you can check out the original feature, with some comments from David, by clicking on the image above.

I can now confirm that the date at the Lancaster Arts Festival in Coventry that I mentioned in that original piece was definitely cancelled...and that's from David himself, so now you know.

If there is anybody out there that was actually present at any of the shows on the first UK tour, we would love to hear about your experiences, and anything we post will be rewarded with some tasty Ziggy artefact or other. If you were there and you can remember anything at all about the performance, (as if it wouldn't be ingrained) please send your reminisces to me at TotalBlamBlam@DavidBowie.com with a subject line of "I remember Ziggy".

Vote For David's 1996 Brit Award Performance

David accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at The Brits 1996

Life is a pop of the cherry..

If you have been watching ITV's preview shows for the forthcoming 2002 Brit Awards show on Feb 20th, you will have spotted a chance for viewers to vote for their favourite 'Outstanding Contribution' performance by past Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
David won the award in 1996, and performed in his infamous and rather ravishing 'stiletto' outfit.

The other two nominees in the poll are The Bee Gees and U2. The winning performance will be aired on the third and final preview show, which goes out on ITV (UK) on Saturday 16th Feb at 12.30pm, and is repeated on Sunday 17th at 5.45pm.

You can vote for David's performance of 'Under Pressure' on : (UK) 09015 60 40 91. Calls cost no more than 10p. The lines are open until midnight (UK) on Sunday 10th Feb.

Thanks to SusanS for all information and the screen grab.

:))

Ziggy On Tv...thirty Years Ago Today

Ziggy on The Old Grey Whistle Test, 8th February 1972.

Switch on the TV we may pick him up on channel two...

In my continued look back at the key moments that led up to the release of 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars' on June 6th 1972, it's time to recall David's very first appearance as Ziggy on nation-wide television here in the UK.

For most fans, David's performance of 'Starman' on Top Of The Pops was their first sighting of this incredible creation from another galaxy, but a broadcast of two songs on The Old Grey Whistle Test on the 8th of February 1972, was in fact Ziggy's very first TV appearance.

Though three songs were recorded for the show, only 'Queen Bitch' and 'Five Years' were actually broadcast on the day. Incredibly, a third song, 'Oh! You Pretty Things' was kept in the can for a further ten years! A different take of this song was broadcast on the BBC a couple of years back, and you can read an account of the full session on Mike Harvey's most excellent The ZIGGY STARDUST Companion. I have a feeling you're going to experience a little more traffic this year Mike. };-)

Bowie dressed in the same clothes that he had worn for the Melody Maker cover shoot a couple of weeks previously, (01/22/02 NEWS: THE OUTING OF ZIGGY - 30 YEARS AGO TODAY!) which was in fact the very same outfit he wore on the Ziggy album sleeve. The Spiders entered into the spirit in wonderfully futuristic silver suits, even if they didn't all look completely comfortable with this new look.

Bowiephiles

David Bowie in his role as an original Elizabethan. Image: Total Blam Blam

She's an old-time ambassador...

New Elizabethan : Daily Telegraph : 01/31/02 To mark the Queen's forthcoming Golden Jubilee, the British Airways magazine 'High Life' has compiled a list of "new Elizabethans" highlighting writers, artists, actors, politicians, pop stars and scientists who have "flourished" during the Queen's 50-year reign. One famous 'mover and shaker' was chosen for each of the fifty years from 1952 to 2001. David was chosen to represent 1972, and is one of only five musicians in the list. The others are Paul McCartney (1963), John Lennon (1971), Johnny Rotten (1976) and Bob Geldof (1985). You can read more here and view the entire list, here.

Epiphany : Jam Music : 02/01/02 Danny Michel, whose recent album, 'Belly Of A Whale' "featured on a surprising number of 'top 10 of 2001' lists", talked to Jam Music about "his first musical epiphany: "I remember watching David Bowie play The Man Who Sold the World on Saturday Night Live. I must've been about seven. He was wearing this big plastic space suit and then he came out and sang the next song and he was wearing a dress. I remember thinking, 'Who is this guy?' My parents were worried that I liked it. Then I went and bought a record. I picked Heroes 'cause it had a weird cover and I loved it. Bowie's the reason I played music." Read the complete article here. (steph)

Tibet House Benefit : 02/22/02 Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys is the latest addition to the line-up for The Tibet House Benefit Concert due to take place at New York's Carnegie Hall in just (thanks pats) 14 days time! He joins the powerful blend of musical talent under the guidance of artistic director and Tibet House Vice President Philip Glass, which now comprises David Bowie, Bebel Gilberto, Nawang Khechog, The Kronos Quartet, Patti Smith, Tibetan monks from the Drepung Gomang Monastery, and Adam Yauch, with others yet to be confirmed. The concert will inaugurate the Year of the Water Horse. For more information, visit the Tibet House website.

(contributors : steph, spaceface)

:))

New Stuff Over At Mikegarson.com

MG and DB do their best to feign a complete lack of nervousness!

Let me rise through the cloudy above...

There are a bunch of great new photos up at mikegarson.com, including shots with David through the years, and quite a few pictures from Mike's own personal family photo album, going all the way back to a very dapper Garson junior at high school in 1963. There's even a couple of shots in there taken by yours truly! };-)

While you're there take a look around, there's some pretty interesting stuff going on over at Mike's site, including a great selection of his very own groovy artworks and the opportunity to purchase his back catalogue.

Nat Tate Winners

Don't fake it baby, lay the real thing on me...

March 7th, 1928, is the fictional DOB of the very fictional Nat Tate. Ten real-life winners provided that information for the competition we set last week, (01/31/02 NEWS: WIN THE BOOK OF NAT TATE'S LIFE STORY) and they are listed below:

aucourant@davidbowie.com
davidmanktelow@davidbowie.com
linda@davidbowie.com
jazzfyr@davidbowie.com
nefret@davidbowie.com
nightlight@davidbowie.com
sillyclownie@davidbowie.com
will@davidbowie.com
rodsharkey@davidbowie.com
Starlynd@davidbowie.com

The very real Susans will contact you all soon, if not earlier, to send each of you a copy of the above...and that's the truth!

Bowienet Featured In New Design Book

It's a moving world...

www.animation is a fascinating new book by Jenny Chapman scheduled for publication on February 21st through Cassell. Taking a look at every aspect of the moving image on the web, www.animation provides essential reading for all serious design professionals and students alike. Here's a little bit from the author:

"Web animation is being made not only by animators and graphic designers, but by musicians, engineers and skateboarders, to name but a few. This diversity of inspiration has brought a wonderful richness and variety to web animation design, which is reflected throughout this book."

BowieNet has three pages of screen grabs given over to it, and deservedly so. This is how the site you are looking at right now is described in the book:

"David Bowie's official website at www.davidbowie.com, which is designed by UltraStar and NettMedia, combines Flash navigational elements and animation with a delicate, understated colouring and design."

Tastefully designed, www.animation is well worth checking out, particularly if you are about to embark upon a bit of your own animated web design.

Bowie's "genuine Affection Returned"

The "genuine" smiles Iman and David Bowie share show their "close
coupledom," says the People's expert.. Photo Dan Herrick/ZUMA.

I believe in magic, Angel for life...

Thanks to Kiarrith for pointing out a charming little piece over at people.com. It's nothing that anybody observing David and Iman over the years will be surprised by, but it's heart-warming stuff all the same.

Dr. David Givens, director of the Institute for Non-verbal Studies, in California, explains:

"He gives her a genuine or 'true' smile and her love for him is equally strong. His genuine affection is returned, in turn, with her true smile. That they feel so comfortable being physically close together reflects a rather long-term relationship. Their upper bodies angling toward each other's is another sign of close coupledom."

Altogether now: Aaaaahhhhh....You can read the rest of the article by clicking on the image above.

Drawing of Iman by David Bowie, taken from the
February edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine.

While we're talking about Iman, there have been a few updates over at www.i-iman.com, with new pictures in the diary section (including a particularly cute one of little Lexie and her mum) and a few of the more recent magazine articles.

The image above is David's drawing of his wife, reproduced from the February edition of Harper's Bazaar, in a feature about what it's like to be Iman for 24 hours which the lady herself described as "not a bad story" despite "a couple of inaccuracies".

Fourth Bowienet/ebay Auction

Now you can re-enact the 'Let's Dance' sleeve with a genuine
pair of Serious Moonlight boxing gloves...Please note: Items are
not in proportionate scale to each other...whatever that means.

Let's bid, under the moonlight, this serious moonlight...

As auction number three ends, the fourth BowieNet eBay auction is about to go live. Again these most desirable items have a Serious Moonlight theme, (it was a hugely popular tour after all) including a genuine Levi Serious Moonlight tour jacket, a well rare pair of Bowie boxing gloves and a Bowie logo pin.

Keep your eye on the BowieNet Auctions Page to view the new items which will be posted later today. Last week's items finished with a combined total of $226.50, and apart from the percentage that we'll be donating to the Save The Children charity, the rest of the money will be used for something rather special that we will be announcing in the not too distant future...Oh, how I love to tease!

Bowieart Window Pain Project Ii

Last year saw Bowieart launch the Window Pain Project, a six-month series of exhibitions in a window on one of the capitals busiest streets in East London, now in the core of another of London's most animated districts comes the first of this year's Window Projects.

In the depths of Piccadilly Circus lies its tube station, a twelve-exit monster of a station with each exit leading to the heart of tourist London, a shopping Mecca and fast food heaven overshadowed by the largest and most expensive advertising hoardings in the UK. Back below ground in the belly of Piccadilly is an instant access route to the largest UK record store, Tower Records. It is here, at this entrance to the store that you will find Graham Hudson's invasion of a window space usually used for retail promotion.

Created specifically for the space Pusher presents us with a bank of screens in a style familiar to those on a set of Top of the Pops. Hudson's video installation reconstructs the familiar image of arcades bygone game the pusher-machine. Where coins are swallowed up by a machine that cranks back and forth promising to reward us with more; the epitome of loss and low aspiration. The odds look good, it could be you, but reality keeps the pounds in the hands of those that control the game. The promised coins shine and shimmer within a hypnotic loop, and like the above ground imagery that soars around Eros, it allures you into a love affair with all that dazzles, the quick-fix, low-think materiality of contemporary society. One is left with the reality of broken promises, and even broker pockets.

The artist has also been at work within the store with a series of audio interventions. Throughout a regular day the latest chart toppers can be heard through the store, but for the duration of Hudson's exhibition this output will be interrupted at certain points in the day. At first such interventions may appear to be in keeping with the clichéd in-store DJ selling new trends and goods. However on closer inspection the interventions mimic the nonsensical dialogue of broadcast advertising's one-liners and outrageous product claims. The output also includes recordings claiming to be seized by hidden store microphones, featuring couples arguing in the aisles, and non-couples carrying on like it is a singles night in the store. Check out the following link for an example of one of the artists Advotainmants.

EXAMPLE

Bowieart.com is a site that utilises the net to provide information and exposure to talented artists at the most important time in their careers.

Pusher opens 12 February and runs till 13 March 2002
Tower Records, 1 Piccadilly, London, W1
For images and further information on the Window Project or Bowieart contact Beth Mears
+44 (0) 20 7352 4976
beth@kcfa.ftech.co.uk
www.bowieart.com

Susans Creates Bowienet News Archive

'Smudger' in her lounge recently. Photograph by Total Blam Blam.

She'll lay belief on you...

Mad-as-they-come BowieNutter, Susans, has spent all of her free time recently creating a magnificent BowieNet News Archive. So far this excellent and very useful service stretches back to January 2001, but the mad woman intends to finish this incredible task by taking us back to the very dawn of BowieNet.

Click on this BowieNet News Archive link to take you to the main archive page, from where you can click on any of the months displayed there...then you can navigate backwards and forwards through the months, and all that sort of clever malarkey.

Well done Susans, absolutely brilliant job...but don't take my word for it. This is what THE MAN had to say:

"Susans has undertaken what is probably the most dangerous and risky task known to man. Typing. Of, course this presents no problem to girlie-girls so Susans should have it all done in about half an hour, I'd guess. What a trouper. What a girl. What a spin. What a rare mood I'm in. Why it's almost like being...archived. - db"

Bowiephiles

Ziggy Stardust at Newcastle City Hall, June 1972. : Image © Ian Dickson

...watching the young advance in all electric

Ziggy live in 1972 : NME : 02/02/02 In this week's NME, a double page spread is devoted to a look back at the gigs which inspired the bands taking part in this year's NME Carling shows. The Pet Shop Boys are asked "What's the best gig you've ever been to?" and Neil Tennant answers : "David Bowie at Newcastle City Hall on the Ziggy tour, June 1972. The venue was half-empty. He was electrifying. He dedicated a song to me and my friends, saying, 'This song is for the strange people in the audience'." There is a review of this gig, written at the time, online here at The Ziggy Stardust Companion, which includes the following :- "David Bowie is one of the great enigmas of music. But he showed that he is also one of the great entertainers when he opened at Newcastle's City Hall last Friday. Armed with his own fine vocals and stage presence, an immaculate sound system, a light show and above all the best rock band I have seen or heard for years, he took the audience by storm." Anyone for a time machine?

Elephant Man : Playbill Online : 01/30/02 The stage play of The Elephant Man is returning to Broadway, with the opening date set as 04/14/02 (previews from 03/26/02). Kate Burton will play Mrs Kendal, opposite Billy Crudup's John Merrick. You can read more about this latest revival, here. The definitive interpretation of the lead role in this play has already been given of course. David played the part from 29th July 1980 to 3rd January 1981. Reviews from that time include :- "shockingly good" - New York Post, "wordless and unmoving, he is nevertheless an electric presence." - Rolling Stone, and "Bowie.. had the audience.. in the palm of his hand." - BBC. You can read more, here.

Kooks : The Independent : until 02/23/02 Julie Verhoeven the illustrator and fashion consultant who, according to The Independent "should get a medal for service to the industry". She has, since the late Eighties, not only researched and designed for some of the world's most renowned names, she has transformed their ideas into immaculately drawn fairytale figures. She has now turned to a far more personal project: a celebration of her favourite records. An exhibition of the results, which comprise her interpretations of, among others, Kooks by David Bowie, Fat Bottomed Girls (Queen), Add It Up (Violent Femmes), and Good Times Roll (The Cars) is at Mobile Home, 42 Theobalds Road, London WC1 (020-7405 7575), until 23 February 2002. Again, more online, here.

:))

David Gets The Horn(s) In New Journal

David with his own horn the other day. Photo by Iman.

I'd like to blow on your horn...

David has written a new journal in which he gives us yet another tantalising glimpse into life in the studio, and the new album.